Dr. Ashfaq Ahmed
Yahya Awan
Umair Majeed
Covid-19 or corona virus/ global pandemic necessitated lockdowns, social restriction and suspended all form of activities. Economic activities were squeezed whereas Armenia-Azerbaijan Caucasian countries were fighting a fierce war in 2020 in Karabakh region. Armenian goal was to preserve illegal occupation over Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory. Russia has military bases and strategic partnership with Armenian under Common Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) yet it did not interfere and remained neutral. Armenian forces equipped with tanks, armored vehicles and supported by short range missiles moved towards the Azerbaijan’s mainland. Azerbaijan employed sophisticated warfare strategy by using Unmanned Arial Systems (UAS) to thwart enemy advances. The UAS commonly known as Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) were purchased from Turkey and Israel (Harop- loitering -munitions). Bayraktar TB2 is Turkey’s leading drone manufacturer. In addition it also purchased Heron long endurance tactical UAV.
Large amount spent on the purchase of UCAVs or drones proved as game changer technology. UCAVs were used to for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions to increase situational awareness of the operators. Drones provided accurate and precise information for efficient use of artillery. The accurate drone attacks targeted and destroyed Armenian defenses lines. Drones armed with missiles also carried out Kamikaze attacks against enemy defence mechanism e.g. radars and Russian S300, OSA and TOR surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. The Radars of these defense systems were unable to detect Azerbaijani drones. Armenia’s offensive/ hostile weapons repeatedly proved to be vulnerable and ineffective against Azerbaijan’s UCAVs. Counterforce assets including missile batteries, artillery, tanks, traditional armored vehicles and fortified positions in the hills proved soft targets by Azerbaijani drones while performing ISR missions and tactical strikes. Armenia was unable to assume that this Technology could play a decisive role in conflict. Azerbaijan consistent strikes at Armenian targets littered destruction of large scale counterforce assets. Even in a single strike it destroyed nearly seven Armenian tanks. War in South Caucasus continued for six weeks. Armenian forces were compelled to unconditionally withdraw from occupied territories.
Key takeaway gleaned after the critical evaluation of the second karabakh war is Azerbaijan was able to push out hostile enemy from its territories. Azerbaijan employed a new war strategy in amalgamation with drone technology vis-à-vis Armenian traditional blitzkrieg approach. UCAVs/ UAS proved to be key the reason of Azerbaijan’s victory. Loitering munitions espoused full scale offensive operations and enhanced range of Azerbaijan’s operational capabilities against Armenian land forces. Deployment of UCAVs over battle field played an important role in the tactical gains of Azerbaijan over Armenia. President Ilham Aliyev’s strategy to use UAS or unmanned mechanized armory reduced human losses and overcome vulnerability of extended supply lines. Drones helped artillery corps to attack and destroy enemy targets with precision strike. Azerbaijan’s approach to fight 44 Days War is seemingly borrowed from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) war fighting strategy. Therefore, authors have drawn inference that Azerbaijan used many advance strategies along with modern weapons to withdraw Armenian military from its sovereign territories. It clearly demonstrates Azerbaijani is open to new ideas, weapon systems and it has the tendency to learn from its past mistakes. The significant aspect is Supreme Commander of Azerbaijani Armed Forces seemingly is keen observer of military strategy of other countries e.g. United States of America (USA) use of drones against terrorists in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Syria. Or Israel’s use of Iron Dome and Barak-8 Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) System against Hizbullahs rocket attacks. Barak-8 deployed in Baku prevented Armenian missiles from destroying targets in Baku and sensitive energy pipelines. TOS-1 flamethrower MLRSs have also been used by the Azerbaijan, they are very effective and accurate. Azerbaijan used them to damage the defense systems of Armenia. It is also new addition Azerbaijan’s military equipment. Recently Azerbaijan announced to acquire Italian-built Leonardo M-346 Master an advanced trainer aircraft. It is capable of carrying dumb and smart munitions. Azerbaijan’s pilots will be professionally trained, understanding of combat operations and operational capabilities will be enhanced. Azerbaijan used T-72 (Aslan modification) and T-90 main battle tanks (MBT) purchased from Russia and self-propelled howitzers, like the Czech-produced DANA (152- millimeter) and Russian-made 2S1 (122-millurinimeter) systems. T-90 is the most advanced MBT in the Azerbaijan’s arsenal effectively destroyed Armenian front lines. It has ability to fire anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) from its main cannon, thus increasing the firepower and lethality.
In conclusion the long unresolved conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, two neighboring countries led to outbreak of violence. Baku won the war due its superior weapon systems and sophisticated war strategy. Use of traditional realist philosophy or hard power finally pushed the enemy from sovereign territories to withdraw. Conflict was resolved after heavy price. Self-help, operational capabilities and modernized-tech weapons are key features for any state to defend its boundaries in anarchic international system.
